# Companion (https://www.getfounderhq.com/docs/companion)

Companion is a small app that you pair with your FounderHQ account.
FounderHQ then sends suitable work to that machine and does not run it in
the cloud:

- AI runs, with the models and subscriptions you connected.
- Studio video exports.
- Captions for your recordings.
- Screenshots of your journeys and previews of your emails.

You pair a machine once. After that, Companion waits until FounderHQ has
work for it.

## Pick your machine

<Cards>
  <Card title="Mac" href="https://www.getfounderhq.com/downloads">
    Download the app for Apple silicon or Intel.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Linux desktop" href="/companion/install-on-linux">
    One command in a terminal. About 2 minutes.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Linux server with Docker" href="/companion/run-on-a-server-with-docker">
    No screen needed. Pair from a link in the logs.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Linux server without Docker" href="/companion/run-on-a-server-without-docker">
    Install the package and keep it running as a service.
  </Card>
</Cards>

## What each install runs on

| Install | Runs on | Updates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mac app | Apple silicon and Intel Macs | By itself |
| Linux AppImage | 64-bit Intel/AMD and ARM desktops | By itself |
| Linux `.deb` | Debian and Ubuntu families, 64-bit Intel/AMD and ARM | Run the install command again |
| Container image | A Linux server with Docker, 64-bit Intel/AMD and ARM | Pull the new image |

Companion does not run on Alpine Linux.

Captions run on Apple silicon Macs with macOS 14 or later, and on Linux.
An Intel Mac does the other work, and does not make captions.

## How pairing works

Pairing ties one machine to your FounderHQ account.

- **On a desktop,** Companion opens a confirmation page in your browser.
- **On a server,** Companion prints a link and a code. Open the link in any
  browser where you are signed in to FounderHQ. It does not have to be on
  the server.

Your paired machines are in FounderHQ under [Settings → Companion Apps](https://app.getfounderhq.com/?openSettings=companion). A machine that is online shows **Active now**. Unpair
a machine there when you stop using it.

## What a server does differently

A server has no screen and nobody sitting at it. Three things change:

- **You connect AI subscriptions from your own computer.** A provider's
  sign-in needs a browser. Connect your subscription under [Settings → AI Provider](https://app.getfounderhq.com/?openSettings=ai-provider). The server then runs that subscription's work.
- **Studio exports take longer.** A server usually has no graphics card.
- **The pairing is kept in a file.** A server has no keyring to protect it.
  Keep Companion's data folder private.

See [Server settings](/companion/server-settings) for the options a server
accepts.